Garbage sorting is popularized in Drohobych. Here, on the basis of Gymnasium No. 5, tanks for sorted raw materials will be installed and presses for compressing plastic bottles will be purchased.
This became possible thanks to the cooperation of the public organization "Bery and Slav", which is represented by the spouses Natalia and Serhiy Starodubtsiv and activist Svyatoslav Stepyak, the founder of the public sorting station “Dro Eco. Logical”, representative of the NGO "Proryv-Misto". The organizers presented the joint project 27 December in the Action Center.
How the idea of joint work arose
About joint work
How it all began and how you can sort garbage on the basis of Gymnasium No. 5? The Ecological Initiative of the "Renaissance" Foundation helped here, according to which a new competition was launched to support eco-organizations of the South and East of Ukraine. The Public Organization "Bera and Glory" is from such a territory, because they were based in 2021 year in the city of Berislav, Kherson region. Where does the name of the organization come from?. But in 2022 year, because of the war Natalia and Serhiy Starodubtsi, which represent NGOs, evacuated to Drohobych and continue their activities here, in particular ecological. After all, the "Renaissance" Foundation supports the environmental initiatives of those organizations, who are still in the east and south of Ukraine or were forced to move due to Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, but are interested in implementing their environmental initiatives in an affordable and safe way.
So, together with the activist Svyatoslav Stepiak from Drogobyt decided to work together on the creation of a sorting platform on the territory of Gymnasium No. 5 in the name of the Hero of Ukraine Serhiy Kulchytsky of Drogobytsk City Council.
Initiative for the development of environmental policy and advocacy in Ukraine (EVEN MORE), which is carried out by the "Renaissance" International Foundation with funding from Sweden.
Natalia noted, that many interesting projects have been implemented in Drohobych and city developed.
"Those projects, which we only initiated at home before the war, have already been implemented in Drohobych, such as sorting garbage. Ago, I think, these initiatives must be supported and continued, and this is very important", - speak Natalia Starodubets.
Presentation of the project
"I had an opportunity at my native school, and I am a graduate of Gymnasium No 5, to do something cool for everyone and for the city in general. The problem is that, that we do not have a culture of handling household waste, and it must be corrected. The purpose of the project – to develop this culture of waste management with the involvement of students and teachers in the city and community", Svyatoslav Stepyak noted.
What exactly will be created in the gymnasium
Discussion of the project together with the school directorate
Gymnasium No 5 chosen for several reasons. Various competitions and contests are not only held on its base, it is visited by a fairly large audience as local residents, as well as immigrants. So the experience of sorting garbage can be useful not only in Drohobych, but also to positively position the community beyond its borders.
It is planned, that consultations will take place in the gymnasium, teaching, workshops to increase eco-awareness, as for students, as well as teachers and parents. It's about forming a habit of sorting garbage. And also, to have a place to store sorted secondary raw materials, is planned to be installed 16 containers for: glass, plastic, paper and metal. The mini-sorting site will be of a closed type. The site will be powered by solar panels.
A word to the students of the gymnasium
The importance of such an initiative and the idea was generally supported by the head of the Department of Urban Economy Rostislav Poshivak, head of the education department Vitaly Vovkiv, director of gymnasium No. 5 Vitaly Lesyk, teacher of biology and natural science at gymnasium No. 5 Alicia Chaikivska, as well as schoolgirls 9 class, who were also at the project presentation.
In general, the practice of involving youth and schools in the sorting of secondary raw materials is quite widespread on the territory of Ukraine. And they help her embody various foundations and funds. Y te, that the International Renaissance Foundation supports this initiative despite the war, only emphasizes its ancient relevance and importance.
Photo: Lilia Puzanova. Natalia Starodubets and Svyatoslav Stepyak at the presentation of the ecological project.